Grand Opening of Spring Hill Suites by Marriott/Hemophiliac Fundraiser - All American Woman 2009 - March 12, 2009

An amazing young woman, Cori Kopitar-Magnotta, invited myself and a bunch of titleholders to the grand opening of the Spring Hill Suites by Marriott in Windsor. It was also a benefit for H.O.P.E. - an organization dedicated to matching parents of newly diagnosed hemophiliac children with other parents. The event raised over $2,000 that day! Congratulations to Cori for making it a great event!
Myself, Cori and Miss Teen America.

Miss North Haven America; Mrs. CT United States, Lynette Piombo and me.

I had the pleasure of meeting one of the leading Doctors at Yale (she is a specialist with hemophilia) and one of the Hemophiliac Foundation members.
Some of the Miss America preliminary titleholders.

One of the fun events that day was "find the special guest." Cori set it up so there were different queens located in areas of the hotel. If visitors went to these areas and got an autograph and came back to the front desk - the got a free night stay! Miss North Haven was in one of the guest suites! When it came time for the ribbon cutting ceremony, Cori gathered us around and the hotel manager spoke about her nephew - who was an inspiration for the event. One of the Selectmen was also on hand for the event.

This little lady took it upon herself to walk her neighborhood collecting money for H.O.P.E. What an inspiration!